Effects of cysteamine supplementation on cryopreserved buffalo bull semen quality parameters

This work aimed to determine the effect of cysteamine (25, 50, 100 and 200 μM) incorporated during dilution on frozen thawed buffalo semen quality. Semen was collected twice weekly for 7 consecutive weeks from three Egyptian buffalo bulls using an artificial vagina. Semen samples were pooled and extended with a Tris-based extender, cooled, equilibrated and finally frozen in liquid nitrogen. The diluted semen was evaluated for motility, viability, morphology, plasma membrane and DNA integrity, in addition to oxidative stress and in vitro fertilizing capability. The post thaw motility and velocity parameters noticeably increased with different concentrations of cysteamine (mainly 100 μM) during different incubation periods. The post thaw sperm viability and normality significantly (p < 0.05) improved with concentrations of 50 and 100 μM. Plasma membrane integrity substantially increased at all concentrations of cysteamine. Cysteamine reduced alanine aminotransferase (at all concentration...